Monday, July 4, 2011

My super exciting news....

oh, I am sooooo excited! You know how I really love the Scottish company Ness?  They sent me an email noticing that I had directed quite a bit of readers to their website through my blog and if I wanted to meet up and potentially collaborate with them.  I think it took me 2 seconds to write back and I think I included at least 50 exclamation points!!  My reply went something like this....

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes! I'm a huge fan of Ness and think it has great potential with the vintage lovin' community and the vintage sewing community (because of the fabulous separates you offer..matching shoes and purses--we love that!!! and the high quality of workmanship). 

ooohhh! Very exciting!  Thanks for writing!

It gets better....We set up a time to meet at the Ness main office which is not far from where I live and I got to meet all the lovely people working there!  They wanted to learn more about me and my blog.  I also got a sneak peak into their Autumn clothing and accessories line!  OMG.  I was over the moon.  There was a lot of sqealing on my part and a lot of 'Look at the fabulous buttons', 'The piping', 'The amazing plaids'....oh, it was so much fun!

So, I am super excited to say that I've become a Ness Affiliate! Doesn't that sound fun?  Basically, I put a link to the Ness website on my blog and if any of my readers buy anything then I get a small percentage of the sales--a way to help support my blogging (read: for me to buy more Ness products or vintage patterns..hahahhaa).  Seriously, I'm just flattered that they took time to find out about little 'ol me.  Most big companies would not take the time to recognise bloggers or people that really love their stuff.  I think it's super generous of them to do this--especially since they are a small company! 

They are all so lovely!  This is a picture of me with Heather (on the left) and Clare (on the right).  Clare is the Senior Designer at Ness and gets to actually design the beautiful tartans and clothing designs!!  What an amazing job.

They are all so lovely! I had so much fun!!

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that I am already a huge fan of Ness.  In fact, I don't buy any RTW clothing except Ness.  Seriously.  I often sew vintage-inspired pieces around their accessories.

I already own 5 pairs of shoes, 3 handbags, 2 wallets, 1 passport holder, 1 hat, 1 jacket, 1 sweater, 1 dress, 1 skirt, 1 scarf and I've bought 2 hats, 2 passport holders and 2 purses as gifts for family and friends.  Wow, I think I'm obsessed :)

Since I've started my blog, I've mentioned Ness over 50 times.  This time last year, I actually built a sewing plan around the colour palette of two pairs of my Ness shoes and my Ness jacket.  The colours were navy blue, hot pink, purple and grey.

Photo 1: Skirt from 1940 pattern, Ness Jacket, shoes and bag
Photo 2: Blouse from 1944 pattern, trousers from 1941 pattern, snood from etsy and Ness shoes
Photo 3: Blouse and trousers from 1941 pattern, Ness shoes
Photo 4: 1960's dress and jacket found at auction house, Ness shoes and bag
Photo 5: Shift dress from 1967 pattern, Ness shoes
Photo 6: Ruffled dickey from 1940's pattern, Ness shoes

Photo 1: Blouse from 1943 pattern, skirt from 1940 pattern, Ness shoes
Photo 2: Colette parfait pinafore pattern, blouse from 1943 pattern, Ness wellies
Photo 3: Halter from 1952 pattern, skirt from 1945 pattern, belt made from Ness scarf, Ness shoes and wallet
Photo 4: Dress from 1940 pattern, Ness Jacket and belt and trim on hat made from fabric from Ness hat

I love Ness because it's almost impossible to find really nice matching shoes and handbags but that was all the rage in designs from the 30's all the way to the 60's. 

I love that they are a small, local company and that they collaborate with Scottish manufacturers (there is a collaboration with Harris Tweed on the horizon).

I love that they ship worldwide.  Seriously, it's always a bit of a bummer to find cool independent companies that aren't able to ship worldwide.  Ness is able to and does a lot of their business by post.

I love that they make pretty and fun tartans!

I love that they offer non-leather shoes!

I love the the high quality of their clothing...really neat piping, matching linings, fun buttons...

I love that they design their own fabrics.

I love how cool everyone is who works there...seriously, I want to hang out with them all!!


I have lots of ideas on fun me-made outfits to match the Ness accessories and blog posts to write.  But I want to hear from you...what would you like to read?  Just click on the poll below!  You can vote for as many ideas as you like.  If you have other ideas, just leave them in the comments below.

YAY! Definitely check out their website.  I am super excited to support this independent Scottish company!  Though they might turn me into a Ness monster...hehehehehehe
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50 comments

  1. YAAAAY DEBI!!! i'm so excited for you! i must toast you. perhaps a little baileys in my joe.

    ness looks like disneyland for vintage lovers. look at all those colors... and they ship worldwide, eh? i did not know this. off to peruse with my morning cuppa.

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  2. I'm so proud of you, sweetiepie! It's great that your blog has brought you attention from a store you like so much!
    I'm really impressed that Ness not only recognized that you were sending people to their site but that they wanted to reward you for it. Many companies would have taken the traffic and not said a word.

    They're wonderful people, and I look forward to seeing more of your creations paired with bits from their collections.

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  3. That is really exciting, Congrats! They couldn't wish for a better ambassador.

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  4. I hadn't heard of them before, and I love finding little independent companies. I maybe love tartan even more! Thanks for the tip, looking forward to more posts :) x

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  5. Wow, congrats! I went and checked out their website after your last post mentioning them. Unfortunately, I found that they only ship their catalogs within the United Kingdom. Can you talk to them about that? I can't guarantee that I'll buy something but I would love to look through their wares at my own leisure.

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  6. Major two thumbs up!!! How great this is - and how great to hear that Ness works with Scottish companies and Harris Tweed!! I read an article just a couple of days ago about how the BBC arranged for the tweed jackets that Dr. Who wears (which were always Harris Tweed and made in Scotland before) to be made by a Canadian company, which arranged to have the tartan woven out of a mix of wool and acrylic (boo! hiss!) in China! (bigger boo and hiss!) And, they are selling the replica jackets on their website for more than 100-pounds MORE than Harris Tweed jackets sell for. Horrible! So upset. (and we won't get into Prince Charles' campaign to use more wool and more UK wool, either - I should think HRH would be making a phone call, or having one of his people make a phone call, to the BBC asap.)
    So, Ness is aces in my book. I'll have to check the site to see if I can find them in Glasgow (no trip to Edinburgh this time, I'm afraid; I have to make pilgrimages to all the places my parents talked about during their romance in Glasgow during the war).

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  7. Thats soooo cool :-) congratulations!

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  8. Oh Debi, that's fabulous news, I don't think Ness will ever find a better ambassador than you! And what a great independent company they are, rewarding loyal customers in that way. I like the cut of their jib and will definitely take a look at their wares. I'm so pleased for you. x

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  9. That is super exciting!! Congratulations! :D

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  10. Oh my gosh, wow!!! Congratulations, I can sense your excitement in your post and I'm not surprised that you had so many exclamation marks in your reply :) I hadn't heard of Ness before you mentioned it on your blog, I may have to save some pennies and purchase some shoes of snazzyness! :) (must remember to use your button when I do it!)

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  11. DEBI, DEBI, DEBIIIIIII!!!!!! Wahooo!!! OMGoodness!!! I am SO EXCITED FOR YOU I AM DOING THE DANCE OF JOY!!!

    Yipee!!! Ness has picked a fabulous person to collaborate with. Congratulations, doll!

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  12. Congratulations Debi, that's wonderful news. I love Ness - the colours they use in their tartans are so fabulous - a really modern twist on the traditional tartans.

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  13. How cool is THAT?!! Well done you!
    Px

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  14. How gratifying to know that good bloggin' can reap such delightful rewards! Well done. :)

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  15. Congratulations! That is excellent news - wonderful to get such a good reception and treatment from a company you love. I actually only just heard of Ness literally about a week ago - a friend of mine got one of their gorgeous, gorgeous blazers for her birthday. I was thinking I'd have to write about them on my own blog some time - hopefully after some purchases of my own! Didn't realise you were a fan - only because I've not been reading that long, because clearly you talk about them quite a lot! I'll definitely go through your link when I buy.

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  16. How fun I bet that was! Sounds like a match made, you have a link on your blog for something you love and then you both benefit from it! That works!

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  17. Wow! That's excellent news, Debi. They couldn't ask for a better ambassador than you, I'm really looking forward to learning more about Ness!

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  18. That's fantastic! What an awesome partnership. Congratulations and good for you!

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  19. Yay! Congrats Debi! That's a super cool opportunity and you are the perfect person for it. That's amazing that they are recognizing you for the increase in traffic - go Ness! :)

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  20. Congratulations Debi, that's great news, you deserve it! By the way, TED says he had a great time in Edinburgh!

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  21. Congratulations on your link up with Ness - a sewing-fashion partnership made in heaven! I have to say I had never heard of them but having had a quick look around their website I absolutely love their stuff - as soon as I have some money to spare I am going back (via you of course) to have a little splurge on something nice for me! Oh and what wonderful gifts some of their lovely acccessories would make!

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  22. Fabulous. Congratulations. You must feel like kid in a candy store.

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  23. Congratulations! You sound so excited, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person!

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  24. Aww Debi what a great thing to happen. I'm so happy for you. To be honest I have never looked at their website. I will be doing so now. I love the pumps you have on, with the matching bag. So cool.

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  25. Wow Debi, this is the most excellent news ever! It's extraordinary that your blog and love for sewing has led to this, what a dream come true! Many congratulations!

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  26. Hi Debi, I've been reading your blog for a while, totally inspired by what you and all the other sewing bloggers do. I was in the Ness shop at the top of the High Street today after a meeting at the castle....drawn in by a fabulous multi coloured rain coat and hat, when I saw all the shoes and bags I thought of you! What a coincidence that your post today is about Ness!! Their stuff is great. Got a few things on my wish list now and when I go back in to get them I'll be sure to mention your blog. All the best for the collaboration.

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  27. Congratulations Debi! I know You'll have a lot of fun with this new oportunity.

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  28. How exciting for you Debi. I've been following your blog for a while now and you are certainly the right person for it. You know, I've never looked at their site but I will be doing so now. Congratulations!

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  29. Congrats! It's so fabulous to work with a company that you love!

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  30. Wow congratulations Debi, how exciting! I had a quick peek at Ness and it seems they have some fantastic stuff...i look forward to seeing the fruits of your collaboration :)

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  31. What a lovely thing to happen. I've been meaning to order some goodies from Ness. I'll have to start now via your link!

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  32. How nice for you! I have missed that company before, but I sure will check it out now!

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  33. Oh, Debi, this is going to wreck my savings account, but it's worth it! I'm so happy for you! And I clicked on literally everything in the survey, I would love to read about ALL of those things!

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  34. i voted for everything! What a great opportunity!

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  35. That is so awesome!! And now I have to go and take a closer look at the company. Good for them for recognizing you and yay for getting some face time with them. :)

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  36. That is fantastic!! I'm so excited for you and so jealous! Great gig and can't wait to see more Ness goods.

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  37. It must have been so much fun to peek behind the curtain! And they could not have a more enthusiastic affiliate than you!

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  38. wow, that is just amazing! Congrats
    I visited Scotland some years ago - and LOVED it!!
    My point being that I remember the Ness shops, and really liked their quality, colors and, yes, tarnans:)
    I have just opened a tab to dream away on their webpage:)
    love sofy

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  39. Such big, exciting news!!! Congratulations, Debi--I was grinning as I read this post I am so happy for you! :) Being able to work with a company you truly love is so neat. Big round of applause! :)

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  40. How fantastically exciting for you (and for us-- through you, LOL)! Congrats on such a fun venture!

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  41. Love love love this! Congratulations Debi! I'm sure you'll be the prettiest Ness monster there is ;)

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  42. Wow, that's amazing, well done you!

    I'm totally with you, I LOVE Ness. I can't walk down the Royal Mile without going into their shop, often on the way there and back. If I had more spare cashola, I'd definitely be buying some more of their clothes. For the moment I have to content myself with a hat, passport cover and wallet (which sadly just died after 3 years of solid service).

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  43. Wow, Congrats! having seen your lovely Ness blazer and handbag in person, I know how much this means to you. They are a great company and a worthy cause to collaborate with! I own a Ness winter coat that I pine for all summer when it is too warm to wear. I cannot wait to see what they do with Harris Tweed!

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  44. Congrats! You must be so excited. I´m so happy for you! :-)

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  45. Well, good for you! I love it when the people we admire, admire us back.

    And I can't wait to see the Harris Tweed collection.

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  46. I quite like the ness stuff, but I've always found their linings let them down quite a bit... bit cheap and nasty compared to the outsides of their handbags etc, no?

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  47. Oh, congratulations!! I LOVE Ness so much, but since I'm in Canada, the prices are out of my reach.

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  48. Thanks everyone for your lovely comments! I am really quite excited!

    @ anonymous: I think maybe the older Ness stuff may have had this problem but I definitely don't find that with new Ness products. In fact, the linings are a high point! They are so beautiful and quite strong and often have interesting construction techniques that are used. I haven't had the linings give out on any of the Ness stuff I own and I regularly put keys and other objects in my handbags! And I can tell it's definitely a high-quality satin used for the linings!

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  49. I am a French fashion blogger and I love tartan and tweed.I have just discovered Ness and your wonderful blog and I love you both. It's quite late now but I wll be back tomorrow to have a look at all your Ness items. Bye for now.

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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